New Delhi: BJP Parliamentary Party Chief L K Advani on Saturday called up Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to express his concern over the severe police action on students and young protesters who were marching towards Rashtrapati Bhawan to demand justice for the Delhi gang rape victim.

"I heard reports that police had taken severe action against the protesters. I called up the Home Minister and told him that we should appreciate the concern of the protesters and their anger is justified," Advani told media.

The BJP leader suggested to Shinde that instead of using force on the young protesters, he should ask the senior police and administration officials to reason with them.

"I asked Shinde to tell the Police Commissioner and other senior officials to talk to the protesters and ask them to disperse instead of using force on them," Advani said.

Asked about Shinde's response to this, Advani said the Home Minister agreed with him and promised to take up the issue with the Delhi police.

BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said boys and girls were deeply disturbed "over the manner in which Delhi had become rape capital" and were at Janpath and on the streets.

"The girls are feeling insecure. The prime minister (Manmohan Singh) ought to have spoken to them," he said.

Referring to the police action against people, including students, protesting at Raisina Hill, he said the government should have been sensitive to their concerns. "They were lathicharged and water cannons used on them. Whole (action) of police is deeply condemnable," Prasad said.

"They are our children...the BJP condemns the police action outright," he added. Prasad also said senior officers should not give certification and added that it "gives message of anger".

Police had used teargas and water canons on students and young protesters, including girls, who were marching from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

A boy and a girl and a traffic policeman were injured as the police directed water jets and opened a volley of teargas shells at the protesters.